Triangular bandage for relieving ingrown toenails



Sept 2, 1969 R. G. HAMUN 3,464,408

TRIANGULAR BANDAGE FOR RELIEVING INGROWN TOENAILS Filed Nov. e, 196e G o d INVENTOR. y @5f/e7 6. HAM /A/ ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,464,408 TRIANGULAR BANDAGE FOR RELIEVING INGROWN TOENAILS Robert G. Hamlin, 2104 Surrey Road, Sacramento, Calif. 95815 Filed Nov. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 592,882 Int. Cl. A61f 5/11, 7/02 U.S. Cl. 12S-81 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A triangular shaped bandage having an adhesive backed base member and a pair of converging medication carrying side strips is disclosed with the bandage being arranged to have the medicated side strips engage under the corners of the toenail with the nail projecting through a triangular open area centrally of the bandage. The tip of the converging side strips also is provided with adhesive to secure the point of the bandage under the toe.

This invention relates to surgical bandages, and more particularly to a medicated bandage for assisting in the relief and cure of ingrown toenails.

An object of this invention is the provision of a simple, easily used, bandage for relieving pain .associated with ingrown toenails.

An additional object of this invention is the provisions of a triangular bandage which is easily applied and which is medicated to assist in the cure and relief of pain associated with ingrown toenails.

A further and more specific object of this invention is the provision of a triangular bandage having converging sides which are adapted to slide under the corners of ingrown toenails to relieve the pain associated therewith, and to assist in the curing of ingrown toenails.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a triangular bandage having a base extensions at a point which are adhesively coated for convenient application by the user.

The speciiic structure with its simplicity, ease of use, convenience in storage and handling, and economies in manufacture, is an additional object of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l illustrates a toe with the bandage applied in position;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 illustrate successive steps in the application of the bandage to the toe; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the bandage with the adhesive surfaces facing upwardly.

With reference now to FIGURES 1 through 5, the in vention described herein is intended for use, as shown in FIGURE l, on a toe shown generally at in which the nail 12 has ingrown.

The bandage is generally in the form of a triangle in which the base of the triangle, a base strip 16, is adhesively coated in the manner of ordinary adhesive tape. While not absolutely essential, a highly significant and important feature of the invention is the provision of base extensions 18 and 20 which are also adhesively coated. A pair of sides 22 and 24 extend upwardly from the base 16 in converging relation to a point 26. Side strips 22 and 24, as shown in FIGURE 5, may be medicated with conventional antibiotics, such as mercurochrome, the more modern broad spectrum antibiotics, or specialized drugs for treatment of ingrown toenails.

The point of the bandage 26 is adhesively coated in the manner of ordinary adhesive tape.

The bandage as a whole is preferably comprised of a gauze-like material which has the medication and the "ice adhesive substance applied thereto in the areas as indicated in FIGURE 5.

In use, protective coverings which may be used with the bandage, but which are not shown for clarity, are removed and the bandage is positioned as shown in FIG- URE 1 with the strips 22 and 24 adjacent the front corner ends of the toenail 12. The bandage is then drawn rearwardly along the toe and strips 22, and 24, which are adapted to slide under the corners of the toenail, move under the corners 12a and 12b of toenail 12, in the manner shown in FIGURE 3. The bandage is moved further to the rearward direction as far as is necessary or as is desirable to place the side strips the desired distance under the corners of the toenail. The point 26 is then pushed downwardly with the adhesive surface in contact with the toe to secure the front of the bandage in place. The base strip 16 is then pressed downwardly in contact with the toe to secure the back of the bandage to the toe by means of the adhesive material applied thereto. If the bandage is provided with base extensions 18 and 20, these are pressed under and around the toes to adhesively secure the bandage to the toe.

While two base extensions 18 and 20 are shown which are adhesively coated, only one base extension may be provided which may be of a desired length tosupply the necessary securement of the bandage to the toe.

In FIGURES 1 through 4, the bandage is shown symmetrically placed on the toe; however, since two converging side strips are provided which are both medicated along substantially their length to the point where they converge, the bandage may be applied somewhat asymmetrically on the toe to accommodate differences in the construction of the toenail and the amount 0f ingrowth which has occurred.

It will be understood that the essential feature of the invention lies in the novel and convenient shape of the bandage and that with respect to the materials of construction, the backing material such as gauze, the adhesive material, and the medication, any conventional or convenient materials and substances may be used since they, in themselves, constitute no part of the invention.

One important feature of the invention is the feature that the bandage may be economically manufactured merely by producing a strip of gauze or other material, applying adhesive along the two sides and medication in the middle and stamping out the desired bandage pattern.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of only such adhesive material as is necessary to perform the desired function. Bandages are known in the prior art which may perform the function of this bandage but generally they cover large areas of the toe with the attendant disadvantages of adhesive tapes. The ability of the skin to breathe is limited only to a very small extent by the bandage of this invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to a very specific embodiment and the drawings show the highly preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be realized that departures therefrom are possible without departing from the inventive concept.

I claim:

1. A triangular bandage for relieving ingrown toenails, comprising:

an adhesive base strip;

converging side strips extending from the base strip to a point, said side strips being adapted to slide under the corners of a toenail;

said base strip yand said converging side strips forming a toenail receiving triangular open area centrally of said bandage; and

an adhesive substance on the point formed by the intersecting sides.

2. A triangular bandage for relieving ingrown toenails, comprising:

an adhesive base strip; converging side strips extending from the base strip to a point, said side strips being adapted to slide under the corners of a toenail; an adhesive substance on the point formed by the intersecting sides; and medication on the converging side strips. 3. A triangular bandage for relieving ingrown toenails, comprising:

an adhesive base strip; converging side strips extending from the base strip to a point, said side strips being adapted to slide under the corners of a toenail; an adhesive substance on the point formed by the intersecting sides; and at least one adhesive base extension extending beyond the intersection of a side with the base.

4. The bandage of claim 3 further comprising medication on the converging side strips.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner JOHN D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 128--157, 268 

